Chiney Ogwumike is an All-Star athlete, broadcaster and sports ambassador. She was the overall pick in the 2014 WNBA draft out of Stanford University, where she studied International Relations. An ESPN host and NBA analyst, her influence extends into policy and diplomacy. Passionate about empowerment, she founded the Queens of the Continent Foundation, raising funds and hosting camps to support youths in the U.S. and Africa. The first-generation Nigerian-American, in this interview speaks on leveraging sports as a platform for women and girls’ education and empowerment.
Take us through your passion and interests in basketball. What led you to this sport?
Basketball found me through my family. Growing up in a Nigerian household in Texas, my parents emphasised education first but they also believed in keeping us active. My older sister Nneka started playing, and as the little sister, I wanted to do everything she did. What began as just fun with family, quickly became a shared passion – and we loved the challenge, the teamwork and the way the game pushed us to grow as people. We fell into basketball, and then fell in love with it! Then it quickly transformed our lives, from high school state championships and Stanford University scholarships, to becoming broadcasters and entrepreneurs. Over time, I realized basketball wasn’t just a sport; it was a platform a way to represent my family, my community and my heritage. That’s what drives me every day: the opportunity to inspire others through this game.
You’ve made history both on and off the court as a 2-time WNBA All-Star, a broadcaster, on former President Biden’s Advisory Council on African Diaspora Engagement. How do these diverse roles shape the way you approach mentoring the next generation of Nigerian female basketballers?
The roles that I have had, demonstrate the true power and potential of women’s basketball as a platform of purpose. Being a player in the WNBA is probably one of the most fulfilling work environments because, not only is it a league that celebrates the achievements of women but it also is a booming business at the intersection of culture and community. Working as a broadcaster has shown me the importance of representation, especially in male-dominated spaces, and also the importance of using your voice authentically. Serving as a member of President Biden’s Council taught me that the diaspora is the key to everyone’s future and it is on us to leverage its power to drive meaningful change.
You broke barriers as the first Black woman to host a national daily sports-talk radio show. How do you translate this as lessons for young girls in Nigeria aspiring to enter not only basketball but male-dominated spaces?
Breaking that barrier taught me one powerful lesson: you belong in every room you work hard for. Entering a space as a “first” can be intimidating and challenging, but it allows you to share a necessary, valuable perspective. The first full-time role I had at ESPN was actually hosting “SportsCenter Africa.” I am so proud to have had that responsibility because it gave me so much joy to know that young African girls could see themselves represented on-air with my name, how I dressed and how I told stories of African achievement. Oftentimes women and young girls who want to go into sports get stereotyped and are not supported. To young girls in Nigeria, I’d say don’t let anyone define what’s possible for you. In male dominated spaces, your preparation is your power. Know your craft so well that they can’t deny you. Build a strong support system, because no one succeeds alone. And remember, when you step into those spaces, you’re not just representing yourself – you’re opening doors for those coming after you. Confidence, resilience, and excellence will always speak louder than doubt. I want young girls to know that we are fighting for them to pursue their dreams and that with hard work, anything is possible.
You’ve described yourself as deeply passionate about giving back. What specific gaps do you see in Nigeria’s basketball ecosystem when it comes to female talent, and how are you addressing them?
I see three major gaps: access, infrastructure and visibility. Too many girls in Nigeria love the game but lack the proper courts, coaching and consistent programs to develop their skills. The reason that I launched my foundation, Queens of the Continent, was to address this opportunity gap for women and girls. I have hosted NBA Africa basketball camps in Kenya, Rwanda, South Africa, Angola, Cote D’Ivoire, Morocco and of course Nigeria. More often than not, these camps feature exclusively boys. My goal is simple: to build a system where every young girl with a dream in basketball has the tools to make it a reality. “Queens of the Continent” is a platform where women feel prioritised and are front and center.
Many young Nigerian athletes struggle with access to facilities, training, and mentorship. From your global perspective, what models can be replicated in Nigeria to bridge these gaps for female basketballers?
From my global perspective, one of the biggest things Nigeria can do is invest in grassroots development building programmes that identify and nurture talent from a young age, just like you see in the U.S. and Europe. We also need strong partnerships between federations, private sponsors, and international leagues to provide resources and exposure. Mentorship programs are key, connecting current and former pros with young players to guide them on and off the court. Finally creating a sustainable professional league at home, will give female basketball players a real pathway to build careers without leaving Nigeria. When we combine opportunity, infrastructure, and support, Nigerian women can not only compete with the world – they can lead it! A few weeks ago, I witnessed the blueprint for success when it comes to sport development on the continent in Kigali, Rwanda at Giants of Africa. President Paul Kagame worked hand-in-hand with Masai Ujiri and government officials to build brand new arenas, outdoor courts, sport pitches and more. This “sport city” is surrounded by top notch hotels, restaurants and retailers. The reason why the NBA’s only league outside the USA is in Africa is because they understand that the talent here is unmatched and unlimited. But we have to be committed to work as a team and build it from the ground up.
Tell us about your initiative Queens of the Continent and its impact on Nigerian and African girls in basketball.
My foundation Queens of the Continent’s mission is to create winning opportunities for young women and girls in Africa and throughout the diaspora. QOTC is dedicated to empowering the next generation of leaders. By harnessing the power of sport, we aim to inspire young women and girls to take charge of their futures. We provide pathways for female athletes to perform at the highest level of elite competition. We are committed to development and maintenance of top-of-the-line sporting infrastructure, such as courts and equipment. We also create access to a network of mentors and educational resources, helping young women transition successfully into careers as athletes and entrepreneurs. We are crowning our future champions.
Growing up as a first-generation Nigerian-American, how have your roots influenced your mission to create pathways for Nigerian female athletes?
I am blessed to have the best of both worlds: Nigerian determination coupled with American opportunities. The beauty of being Nigerian is that we no dey carry last; we hustle, work hard and won’t stop. The beauty of being American is to have the investment and infrastructure necessary for success. When I was at Stanford University, I chose to study abroad back home in Nigeria. During that trip, I served as a coach at a basketball camp in Benin City. At that camp, I experienced the passion and enthusiasm the kids had for the game. But I also witnessed them all competing on a bumpy court, with crooked rim and most with faulty shoes. I was forever changed and from that moment on, my mission was to use my platform for positive change so that those kids can have a more equitable chance at pursuing their dreams.
Beyond basketball skills, what life values do you want to instill in the next generation of Nigerian female basketballers through your work?
The most important life value that I hope to instill in the next generation is confidence. Did you know that 96 percent of women in C-Suite positions (CEO, COO, CFO, etc) in the United States played sports? These findings highlight a compelling pattern: women in the highest echelons of business leadership have cultivated key qualities from playing sports including confidence, discipline, work ethic, goal-oriented mindset, self-belief and more. QOTC is crowning our future champions by translating the skills learned through sport to the real world.
What dreams do you envision in Nigeria in the next 10 years for women in sports?
I envision a Nigeria where women in sports have the same access to resources, training and opportunities as anyone else. In the next 10 years, I see young girls having proper facilities, supportive communities, and professional pathways that allow them to compete not just locally, but on the global stage. I dream of seeing Nigerian women leading professional leagues and inspiring the next generation to believe that sports can be a career, not just a passion. Most importantly, I hope we build an ecosystem that celebrates and invests in women athletes, coaches and leaders because when women rise, the entire nation rises with them.
